Threat and opportunity: The impact of social inclusion and likeability on anonymous feedback, self-esteem, and belonging

The aim of the study was to extend previous research on feedback giving behaviour by investigating whether (a) recalling a previous experience of social inclusion or exclusion prior to providing performance feedback to a likeable or less likeable feedback recipient impacts on anonymous performance evaluations, and (b) people experience a change in self-esteem and belonging after providing anonymous feedback. Two hundred and forty-one participants took part in the online study. Participants were asked to either recall a previous experience of social inclusion, social exclusion, or what they had eaten in the past 48 h (control). They were then asked to evaluate a book review attributed to either a likeable or relatively less likeable target. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were not supported such that performance feedback was not positively modified regardless of feedback recipient likeability. Hypothesis 3 was not supported such that self-esteem and belonging did not increase after providing performance feedback. However, subsequent analyses demonstrated that there is a complex interaction between the social inclusion manipulation and feedback recipient likeability on changes in self-esteem and belonging after providing feedback. The theoretical implications of the findings as well as the practical implications will be discussed.